St. Paul daily globe., 1887-10-23
BUCHANAN,s LOYALTY.
"A Private Letter Expressing His
Devotion to the Union.

DeVOClOn TO the UnIOn.
just now, when men with inflamed
passions are busy breaking down public
confidence in one of the most excellent
presidents of the republic, and are
falsely pretending to have searched his
heart and found there motives inimical
to his country, it is proper to refer to
other like instances which have become
historical, says the San Francisco Alta
California.
Mr.. Cleveland is the first Democratic
president who has occupied the Office
since Mr.. Buchanan. When Buchanan
died, the party in power in congress
grudged his memory the recognition
and the hOnOrS by custom accorded to
ex-presidents of the United States, and
to this day he is named as the odium of
has party and an example of infidelity
to his country.
No efficient exploration has been made
to develop his personal, heartfelt views
cOgnate issues, and his cOuntrymen
have been furnished a partial and parti-
san estimate that dishOnOrs his memory,
and is used for the confusion of the
party to which he was so long attached.
The Alta has been recently put in pos
session of his private letters to personal
friends upon some subjects that have
present interest for the whole country,
bearing upon our foreign policy and our
commercial development, and to them
we will refer at another time. They
vitality interest the Pacific coast and this
city, and will be read here and else
where as If they were written to-day.
just now we have to do with Mr.. Bu-
Rh0nonJC II Iy,a
tiOn of the North to preserve the Union.
Therein he has been so persistently mis-
represented that it is patriotic duty to
dlSSlpate the false Impression, which
puts bar sinister in the escutcheon of
one who enjoyed the ultimate eXaltation
possible under our republican form of
government.
His public course in the last days of
his administration was unqueStionably
dictated by desire to avert the disaster
of war, if that were possible, under the
Crittenden compromise Or any kindred
measure. A keen analysis of the affairs
OF that distant time proves that herein
he did not greatly differ from Mr.. Lin
coin, who for some time undoubtedly
disbelieved that actual war was immi-
nent.
What Mr.. Buchanan privately
thought, the real sentiment of his heart
and his keen foresight are shown, how
ever, by his personal communication
with valued friends ON the other side,
and the testimony is of such value that
they now, when it serves only the good
purpose of correcting the misconcep-
tlonS of his countrymen, assent to its
first publication. That publication we
make as current corrective of the mad
charges of furious partisans, who seek
for political advantage to conceal, by
clamOr, the efforts made by another
president for the cleansing of politics
and the bringing of duty and decency to
the front. This letter shows how mis-
taken often is the popular estimate of
the motives of our public men and that
it may do the most good we give it cir
culation:
WHEATLAND, near Lancaster, May 4, 1861.
My Dear Madam: l have received your
favor of the 26th ult., after having been
many days on the way, and most sincerely
and deeply sympathiZe with you. Still l be-
lleve your imagination has magnified the
difficulties of your situation and you will
not be exposed to the dangers you appre-
hend. You have had chequered life, and I
still trust your last days may be peaceful and
happy.
The assault upon Fort Sumter has m ade
us unanimous throughout the North.
often predicted that such would be the effect
of so mad and reckless an enterprise. The
spirit of the North has been thoroughly
aroused, and they will go ahead until seces